Lieutenant General (retd) Amjad Shoaib was arrested by the Islamabad police in the wee hours of Monday for inciting the public against national institutions.
According to the details, personnel from the Ramna police station took him in custody from his residence in the federal capital after a First Information Report was filed against him last evening over his interview with a private news channel.
As per the FIR, the former three-star general tried to provoke disharmony, anarchy, and the law and order situation in the country through his controversial statements made on the TV show.
“The aim of his controversial advice to the people, government employees, and an opposition party is to comments is to promote enmity among the people,” the FIR said.
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The arrest of Lt Gen (r) Amjad Shoaib has sparked intense public ire. Members of Pakistan’s journalist and lawyer community, along with political figures, condemn the arrest of Lt Gen (r) Amjad Shoaib.
“Amjad Shoaib was arrested after answering the anchor’s question in a TV show. I have carefully read the FIR and believe that the anchor who asked the question will also be arrested. The arrest is not only reprehensible but also shameful for the justice system,” journalist Hamid Mir said.
ایک ٹی وی شو میں اینکر کے سوال کا جواب دیکر امجد شعیب صاحب گرفتار ہو گئے میں نے ایف آئی آر کو غور سے پڑھا ہے اور مجھے یقین ہے کہ کچھ دنوں کے بعد سوال کرنے والے اینکروں کی گرفتاریاں بھی شروع ہو جائیں گی امجد شعیب کی گرفتاری صرف قابل مذمت نہیں بلکہ نظام انصاف کے لئے قابل شرم بھی ہے pic.twitter.com/P3dJlHxP61
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) February 27, 2023
“For God’s sake, the court should immediately discharge General Amjad Shoaib from this case. Read and understand the law – it is not sedition in any sense. There is no one left with a mind, a consciousness, who advises according to the law. Stop harming Pakistan,” lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq said.
خدا کا نام لو- جنرل امجد شعیب کو عدالت فورا اس مقدمے سے ڈسچارج کرے-
قانون پڑھو اور سمجھو- یہ بغاوت پر اکسانا نہیں ھوتا کسی بھی لحاظ سے-
کوئی عقل، شعور والا رہ گیا ھے جو قانون کی رو سے مشورے دے-
بنتا ھے یا نہیں- بناؤ اور اندر کرو- پاکستان کا نقصان بند کریں- pic.twitter.com/vcR1c5jSl9
— Mian Ali Ashfaq (@MianAliAshfaq) February 27, 2023
“The arrest of 80-year-old General Amjad Shoaib will bring nothing but more hatred and anxiety. The arrest of such a senior military general for mere criticism is a very wrong tradition. Amjad Shoaib should be released immediately. It is time to act sensibly. The country is surrounded by serious crises, do not create more crises,” PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said.
اسی سالہ جنرل امجد شعیب کی گرفتاری سوائے مزید نفرت اور بے چینی کے کچھ نہیں دے گی، محض تنقید پر اتنے سینئر فوجی جنرل کی گرفتاری انتہائ غلط روائیت ہے،امجد شعیب کو فوری رہا کیا جائے جوش سے نہیں ہوش سے کام کرنے کا وقت ہے، ملک سنگین بحرانوں میں گھرا ہوا ہے مزید بحران پیدا نہ کیجئے https://t.co/JGr4ZYuXRi
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 27, 2023
Last year, Amjad Shoaib was summoned by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to appear on September 7th after he made claims about a meeting between the Pakistani prime minister and an Israeli team.
Read more: FIA in action against Lt. Gen (r) Amjad Shoaib for sharing “fake news” on PM Shehbaz